Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists (CRNAs)
New York Presbyterian Hospital/Columbia University Medical Center is one of the leading academic medical centers in the world. We strive for excellence in patient care, teaching, discovery, and leadership. Our department is a robust practice of dedicated, multidisciplinary faculty, certified registered nurse anesthetists (CRNAs), residents, anesthesia technicians, medical assistants, research coordinators, and other staff. We collaborate to deliver the highest quality and compassionate care for patients undergoing a wide number of surgical and diagnostic procedures. Our team administers over 50,000 anesthetics a year across our three campuses: Columbia University Medical Center, Morgan Stanley Children’s Hospital, and the Allen Hospital.
The certified registered nurse anesthetists in our department have a long tradition of excellence, leadership, and innovation. Margaret Galt Boise, in collaboration with Hugh H. Young, created the Boise-Young anesthesia apparatus in 1911; Anne Penland served as our first Chief Anesthetist from 1916–1938 in the early years of the department. Dr. Virginia Apgar, the pioneer in obstetric anesthesiology, was appointed director of the division in 1938. Today, we are proud to have an outstanding team of fifty CRNAs who continue this legacy and form a vital part of our department. They are key to the fulfillment of our mission. In addition to providing excellent patient care, CRNAs are involved in several initiatives, including clinical instruction for Columbia University’s Nurse Anesthesia Program, global community outreach, Epic platform development, guest lectures, the CRNA newsletter, CRNA week patient/public education, and others.